In additional telepic news, Michael K. Williams will co-star alongside Queen Latifah in the HBO TV Movie “Bessie.” Mo’Nique, Khandi Alexander and Charles S. Dutton signed on with Dee Rees, the film’s resident director, to write and direct the pic that will chronicle the singers rise to fame despite her turbulent love life.

The TV film will be produced by HBO Films in association with Queen Latifah and Shakim Compere’s Flavor Unit Entertainment and Lili and Richard Zanuck’s the Zanuck Company.